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Re-activateWhen it comes to GPS navigation systems, most consumers are drawn to established makers such as Garmin, Magellan and TomTom. But even electronics companies more renowned for entertainment gear for cars are getting into the GPS game.
At CES 2008, Sony unveiled its entry latest entries into the GPS space with its nav-u line of portable navigation systems. [Jan. 8 2007 UPDATE Sony has offered GPS units since 2005. —Ed.] As Consumer Reports Associate Editor Jim Travers reports in our Cars blog, the Sony NV-U73T has a 4.3-inch touch-screen and will be priced at a reasonable $350. The $500 NV-U83T has a slightly larger (4.8-inch) screen and wireless Bluetooth capabilities. (Click on the image at right for a closer look.)
At first glance, both models may appear to be "me-too" offerings in an already-rich portable GPS marketplace. But Sony's nav-u units do bring something "new" to those shopping for a GPS gadget. From Jim's blog:
"Another unique feature is 'gesture command.' So long as the address has been pre-programmed, a driver can get directions home with just a finger swipe of the screen drawing an inverted 'V,' representing the shape of a house roof. Other gesture commands perform common functions like 'call home' and zoom."
For more on the nav-u units, read the Car's blog, "Sony introduces nav-u line of portable GPS devices."
We plan to test the Sony nav-u models for inclusion in our Ratings of GPS navigation systems soon. It should be interesting to see how the Sonys stack-up with other advanced GPS units, such as the Magellan Maestro 4050 with voice-recognition. In the meantime, we'll keep you updated on our Electronics blog with the latest news on GPS and other CES-related announcements.
—Paul Eng
—Paul Eng
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